Centrifuge receptacle provided with drop ridges



Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,707

Filed June 27, 1923 Inventor Patented Oct. 19, 1926;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL PETTER NILSSON, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.. A COR-PORATION on NEW JERSEY.

CENTRIFUGE RECEPTACLE PROVIDED WITH DROP RIDGES.

I Application filed June 27, 1923, Serial No. 648,114, and in SwedenAugust 16, 1922.

As is well known, a rotating centrifuge bowl to a certain extent acts asa fan, thus causing a circulation of air through the centrifugereceptacles adapted to collect the liquids issuing from the bowl of thecentrifuge. In order to alter, more or less, the directions and theintensities of these air currents, and thus to prevent vapour and foamfrom being sucked from the collecting vessels for the separated liquidsinto the compartment surrounding the bowl, there have been providedradial or oblique (spiralshaped) ridges in the vessels. For reasons thatneed not be mentioned here, the air is generally sucked in through theliquid outlet of the upper collecting vessel, and after 'it has passedthrough the collecting vessels, it is blown out, partly through theliquid outlet of the lower collecting vessel, and partly throughopenings in the top portion of the compartment surrounding the bowl.However, in addition. to this air current which communicates, on thepressure side as well as on the suction side, with the space surroundingthe separator, there also occur closed or whirling air currents withinthe vessels. Hitherto, the occurrence of such whirling currents has notbeen taken into consideration in any higher degree, as they do notinvolve any inconveniences in milk separators.

However, if it is desired to completely relieve a light liquid such asbenzine escaping through an upper liquid outlet of a heavier liquid,such as water, which escapes through a lower outlet, it will be foundthat such closed or whirling air currents cause a certain though onlyinconsiderable remixing of the two liquids.

The present invention has for its object to hamper such air currents, orto entirely prevent their origination, and also to separate the fineliquid particles entrained by said air currents. The invention isprincipally distinguished by the fact that suitable members are arrangedwithin the area where such air currents are apt to occur, in such amanner as to alter the direction of the air currents produced, while atthe some time catching drops of liquid entrained by the air currents, sothat these drops may gradually fall down and enter the proper vessel.Preferably, said members are constituted by rings or ridges which arepreferably disposed in concentric relation to the bowl, or substantiallyso, within the area where the prevention of such air currents isdesired. Such an embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Fig. 1 ofthe accompanying drawings.

The rings D are disposed on the lower side of the partition E and dividethe space underneath the partition in two or more compartmentscommunicating with each other through the space between the lower edgesof the ridges on the one side and the bowl F and the bottom G of thelower collecting vessel. As pointed out in the foregoing,'the rings Dhave a double action, in that they will partly hamper an air currentflowing along the partition E, and partly separate liquid particlescaught by such air current. On the comparatively sudden change in thedirection of the air current the liquid particles continue in theirmovement, in the initial direction, owing to the inertia, and stick tothe outer surfaces of the ring or the rings. While the drops are movingdownwards through the combined influence of gravity and the action ofthe air current, their volume is increased by absorption of furtherparticles of liquid, which facilitates their passage through theopenings between the lower edges of the rings and the bowl, without thedrops being again entrained by the air. Fig. 1 of the drawing shows twoconcentric rings; it should be understood, however, that the inventionis not limited to the said numb-er of rings, as in certain vessels onering may bring about the desired eifect, while in others a plurality ofrings may be required. According to a further embodiment, ridges areused which are arranged tangentially, or nearly tan entially and,broadly, in such a way, that they will not permit air currents flowingunderneath the partition to pass, without changes in the direction ofmovement, from an outer zone to an inner one, or vice versa.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of ridges disclosed in Fig. 1,and Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of embodiments in which the ridges areconcentric to the bowl, but not annular. Fig. 5 shows an embodimentwherein the ridges are disposed tangentially. The innermost circle inthese horizontal projections indicates the outline of the upper part ofthe bowl. As set forth in the foregoing the ridges D are so arranged asto prevent, above all, particles of the heavier liquid from beingentrained by the air currents to the lighter liquid. The ridges. H, Fig.1, disposed in an upper collecting vessel are, on the other hand,specially adapted to prevent particles of the lighter liquid "from beingentrained by the air currents to the heavier liquid.

These ridges H may also be made in different Ways; for example, they maybe shaped according to any of the embodiments shown in Figs. 2-5.

When using such ridges lfl, however, the outlet for the lighter liquidshould be disposed as at J, Fig. 1.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is In a centrifugal machine for separating liquids ofdifierent specific gravities, in combination, a bowl provided Withopenings for the passage of separated liquids, collecting vessels forthe separated liquids disposed about said bowl, said vessels beingseparated by a partition, said machine being provided with a passagewayaffording communication between said vessels, a plurality ofsubstantially tangential bafiies extending from said partition and at anangle thereto and positioned adjacent said passageway so as to preventthe passage of particles of liquid entrained by air currents passingfrom one vessel to the other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

K. P. NILS SON.

